Day 1459: In the dark

I’m in the dark as I’m writing this because

• the sun hasn’t come up yet,
• I’ve not turned on any lights, and
• there are so many things I don’t understand.

I took this photo when it was dark last night.

I guess I felt the need for some sunshine, although that was just somebody trying to sell me soap.

When  I’m in the dark, it helps to remember happy times, like this scene from my favorite movie:

Even though I’m in the dark about so many things, I’ll still keep  singin’ in the rain with the late Gene Kelly,  the late Donald O’Connor, and  the late Debbie Reynolds.

As light through yonder window breaks, good morning and thanks to all of you for brightening my life, here and now.

Day 1318: What helps you do what’s healthy for you?

Yesterday, in a therapy group, one of the members asked this great question:

What helps you do what’s healthy for you?

Do any of my photos from yesterday help?

What helps you do what’s healthy for you?

As you might notice, humor, music and dancing are on my list.  Here’s something healthy  that includes all three:

 

 

Gratitude is on one of my lists, too.  Thanks to all who helped me create this post and to you — of course! — for visiting, here and now.

 

Day 858: A dozen ways to melt away your stress

Yesterday, I saw a sign.

I recognize that melting away my stress is extremely important, because

• I’m recovering from an operation I had earlier this week,
• I’m the owner of a very unusual heart, which has outlasted most conventional predictions for longevity, and
• I’m soon returning to work, where I do my best to help others melt away stress.

Therefore, I shall use the other photos I took yesterday in service of helping us all melt away stress.

Ready to melt?

#1. Spend time with friendly creatures

 
    

when you’re outdoors

or indoors.

#2. Be kind to yourself, applying things that help you feel better, including

chocolate, pleasing colors,

and every other little thing that gladdens each beat of your beautiful

.

#3. Keep away from real

as best you can, whether you’re far away

or close to home.

#4. Seek out the beauty that surrounds you, even if you have to spend some time and energy looking for it.

      

#5. Pay attention to helpful messages from the universe.

#6. Work at

… but let go of worry when communication does not go perfectly smoothly. In almost every case, you’ll have another opportunity to connect.

#8. Come to think of it, let go of worry (and other future-oriented fears) about EVERYTHING, including

#9. Help preserve —  or even transform — the world, as best  you can.

 

#10. Listen to more classical music

… whether it’s Spring or any other season.

#11. Indulge in your favorite things whenever possible (like, for example, a showing of the musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” with music performed by the Boston Pops, tonight).

#12. Make ’em laugh (and let them make you laugh, too).

Stress-free thanks to cats, to Boston and its surroundings, to Antonio Vivaldi, to Donald O’Connor, and to all those who help melt away my stress, including you!